Virginia Steele Swearingen's Obituary
Virginia Steele Swearingen was born November 25, 1921. She was known to all her family and friends as Jackie. She passed away January 13, 2010 after an extended illness. Jackie was a native of Ripley, TN, and after completing high school, she attended the University of Tennessee. It was there that she met the love of her life, James David Swearingen. Jackie and Dave were married on March 14, 1943 in Jacksonville, FL shortly before he was deployed to an airbase in Rackheath, England. He was a bomber pilot during the WWII. While he was away, Jackie continued her education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She then taught school for a year in Ripley. When Dave returned from the war, they moved to Knoxville so he could complete his degree. They had a long and happy marriage that lasted 50 years and 7 months. Before she became incapacitated, Jackie enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, and spending time with family and friends. She was a long-time member of Mullins United Methodist Church and participated in Bible study groups. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac Milton and Helen Burgess Steele; her two sisters, Laura Winston McClure and Helen Coleman; her husband, James David Swearingen; two nephews, Paul McClure and Hal Coleman; and a daughter-in-law, Cathy Endicott Swearingen. Jackie left a myriad of treasured memoriaes for her family. She had five children, Elisabeth Swearingen Talbot, Laura Lynn Swearingen, James David Swearingen,Jr. (Marcia), Carl Newton Swearingen, and Roy Milton Swearingen; five grandchildren, William David Talbot (Colleen) Leina Swearingen Lunghi, Stephen David Swearingen, Ryan William Swearingen, and Carly Lynn Swearingen; one great-grandchild, William Joseph Talbot; and a loving and devoted caregiver, Ruth Hurt. Although the loss of her presence in our lives will be painful, the family is consoled by the thought that Jackie and Dave are finally reunited in Heaven.
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